Thank you again to everyone who has read and followed my blog this past year. It was great to celebrate and think back over this past year in starting and writing my blog. As hard as it is to write and talk about, I know that it is an amazing opportunity and really an honor to tell other people about my dad and what he went through.
A few months ago, I wrote a post about Jim Kelly and his battle with cancer. It was amazing to see this big figure in sports, having to go through this tough battle with cancer. While he has been going through it, he and his family have stayed strong in their faith in God.
Recently, I watched on T.V. about a college basketball player, Lauren Hill, who may not even make it to the new year, due to brain cancer. Her story is amazing and the person that she is while going through all this is even more amazing.
She plays at Mount St. Joseph, a small DIII school in Cincinnati, OH. The NCAA approved moving the date of the game up from it's original date, with the hope that she would be able to play. They played Hiram College in Hiram, OH. The night before the game, Hiram's team took Brittany's team out to dinner. The next day during the game, Brittany scored the first and last goal of the game. Mount St. Joseph, but nobody really cared this day. Even the Hiram players after the game, were crying and hugging Brittany and her teammates, and everyone was touched by what was going on. They were all inspired by and celebrating Lauren.
During the time that my dad was sick, due to the medication that he took, his face would swell. As he would say, he looked like a "chipmunk." In watching Brittany's story, I noticed that about her as well. I don't bring this up to be insensitive, but to bring up an interesting point. It's interesting how, and I speak for myself here, about how I care about how I look. Watching Lauren's story and and remembering my dad, it changes my perspective, because while it is important to care about how look, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't really matter.
Watching Lauren's story reminds me how important it is to have a support system. There were many times when my dad was sick and even now, that I think I am all alone in this journey. In those times, God reminds me that I am not alone. That he has been with me and my family every step of the way and will continue to walk with us. He also places people in your life during your time of need and even after that, that are the exact people you need in your life. I know it has been that way for me, even when I didn't think so.
It was also amazing to me to see people, especially in his last few years and months of living, they would tell me that they were praying for my family and my dad. It is still very humbling to think about. I don't know about you, but I many times doubt God will answer my prayers, and here are people that prayed for 15 years. It reminds me how powerful prayer is, even when you don't think God is answering or doing anything.
It's hard though, because when I look at my dad's situation and Lauren's, I think why do/did they have to go through so much pain. Did they do something that would cause God to allow them to get cancer. I remember that it is not based on that, that honestly I don't know why. My pastor talks about how sometimes we go through things that can't really be explained. That sometimes only God knows, but we may not find out while we are still living.
If I can be honest, that is hard for me to deal with. I want to know why my dad had to go through all that he did. I want God to tell me, but I realize that may not happen. I have to remember that while I have those questions, there are other people that I can help. There are people that Brittany and her family can help, even with the questions they have. Again, that is SO TOUGH, because I realize everyday that I won't see my dad again. That I won't get to share great memories and milestones with him. That I won't be able to just hang out with him.
There are also many times that I think, what was the point of all that we went through. All those years of treatment, all the family and friends that prayed, and he was never able to fully recover, it was all a waste. Then I think about what God is teaching me right now, and how he didn't waste anything. I continue to learn from my dad even though he is no longer here. I know what it means to persevere even though there are times where I don't feel like I can. What it means to love and sacrifice for my family. Even though I am single right now, I hope to one day get married and have a family. Probably only then will I realize how much my dad loved us and how much he sacrificed for his family.
My hope is that wherever you are right now, that you remember how important it is to have support and be around those that you care about. That you realize how much someone who you know personally, what they went through and how much they and sacrificed for those that they loved. KEEP GOING!!
Here is the link to Lauren Hill's story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T5d2Bpp2p8
Thanks for reading and God Bless,
Patrick Mastrianni
